More than a year after he took charge of the University of Hawai'i in a turbulent time, interim President David McClain has been given a strong vote of confidence by the people who hired him, the Board of Regents.

McClain received top marks in a formal review and assessment completed this month, UH officials said.

"The Board of Regents could not be more pleased with David McClain's performance," said regents chairwoman Kitty Lagareta.

McClain first was named acting president, then appointed to a two-year term as interim president in August 2004, two months after the regents ousted the previous president, Evan Dobelle, following more than a year of acrimony over his leadership style and a loss of trust by the board.

Since then, McClain has earned generally high marks from faculty and students for leading the university through months of bitter charges and countercharges following Dobelle's ouster and for putting the school on a course that has left much of the upheaval behind.

"Dobelle helped lift the sights of the university in terms of what's possible, but he wasn't able to move them forward," Lagareta said. "The new team with David McClain knows how to get things done."

In the past year, McClain has led the university through planning for a more than 100 percent tuition increase in coming years, an aggressive building program and the rebuilding of Hamilton Library and more than a dozen other buildings seriously damaged in an October flood on the UH-Manoa campus that caused losses in at least 30 buildings.

"At this point as interim president, he's definitely rising to the occasion," said UH-Manoa student body president Grant Teichman, who said McClain has consulted him by phone on appointments and even lent him a book from his personal library. "He's friendly and thoughtful, makes you feel comfortable and has given us stable leadership at a time when we definitely need it."

The regents began reviewing McClain's performance in June in terms of leadership, relations with others, planning, decisiveness, problem-solving and organizational abilities.

"In all the areas we discussed, the regents gave him the highest rating," Lagareta said.

Rockne Freitas, chancellor of Hawai'i Community College, said McClain has done a good job under stressful circumstances.

"He came in at a tough time, but he's got a lot accomplished," said Freitas, praising McClain's hands-off type of leadership. "He lets us do our job and doesn't micromanage. He knows we're all in the same canoe and have to paddle together."

The regents gave McClain the positive review in an executive session meeting earlier this week.

"I'm gratified to receive the Board of Regents' positive assessment, and look forward to continuing to work with the board to execute our strategic plan for the benefit of our students and the communities we serve," he said in a statement.